A senior US general called Pakistan a "phenomenal partner in the counter-terrorism world" and emphasised that the United States "had to have" a relationship with both Pakistan and India.

He said, "Right now what we saw is the Taliban is going after ISIS-K (Khorasan)... they hate each other, pushed a lot of them into the tribal areas on the Afghan-Pakistan border. Through a phenomenal partnership with Pakistan, they have gone after ISIS-Khorasan killing dozens of them."

He explained that the United States provided intelligence through its relationship with Pakistan. He said Pakistan used that intelligence and captured at least five ISIS-Khorasan high-value individuals.

General Michael 'Erik' Kurilla, who headed the United States Central Command (CENTCOM), stated this during a congressional hearing.

He also praised Pakistan for extraditing Mohammad Sharifullah, also known as Jafar, an ISIS-K member, to the United States.

In March, the US Justice Department charged Sharifullah for his role in the August 2021 suicide bombing at Kabul International Airport in Afghanistan.13 American military personnel were killed in the bombing.

He said, "They extradited back Jafar who was one of the key individuals behind the Abbey Gate bombing. And the first person they called, (Pakistan's) chief of the army staff was me and said, 'I've caught him, I'm willing to extradite him back to the United States. Please tell the secretary of defence and the president.'"

Kurilla said Pakistan operated with limited intelligence that the US provided. He explained that Pakistan used its own means to carry out operations.

He said, "I would honestly tell you that since 2024 the beginning, Pakistan has held over 1000 terrorist attacks in the Western area killing about 700 security and civilians and 2500 they're in an active counterterrorism fight right now."

He added that Pakistan had been a phenomenal partner in the counterterrorism world. He also said the United States needed to maintain relationships with both Pakistan and India.

He said, "We have to have a relationship with Pakistan and India. I do not believe there's a binary switch that we can't have one with Pakistan if we have a relationship with India. We should look at the merits of the relationship for the positives it has."